Rescue SA search continues in Japan

The South African search and rescue team in Japan have had their hands full in trying to search for survivors after the devastating tsunami.

The 50-strong team and rescue dogs have been helping to pull survivors and countless dead out of the rubble at Natori City, north of Tokyo on Tuesday.

Relief efforts are continuing weeks after a tsunami which was triggered by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake, despite freezing winds, hail storms and thick snow. Temperatures are forecast to plunge to -5C (23F). More than 13 000 people are estimated to be missing following the disaster.

The nation has seen entire villages and towns wiped off the map by a wall of water, leaving in its wake an international humanitarian effort of epic proportion.

On Twitter last night the Rescue SA team said they were back from Natori City. "Used two inflatable boats to search flooded rice paddy. The water was, how shall we say this: freezing!" they tweeted. - BuaNews